National parks across the U.S., such as Yellowstone and the Great Smoky Mountains, are preparing for a busy summer filled with visitors. However, these parks face significant budget cuts proposed by President Trump, which could exceed a billion dollars. While the administration claims that visitor experiences will remain unaffected, many conservationists and lawmakers disagree.
The proposed budget cuts include over $250 million that currently supports park rangers, emergency responders, and scientists. For the following fiscal year, Trump suggests cutting an additional $1.2 billion. Kristen Brengel, vice president of the National Parks Conservation Association, criticized this move, stating it reflects poorly on the administration’s commitment to protecting national parks.
Brengel’s organization conducted an analysis indicating that to achieve these cuts, the government may need to sell off around 350 national park sites. This would not only affect the 63 major national parks but also smaller sites like the Martin Luther King National Historic Park in Atlanta.
In the past, Trump signed legislation that increased funding for parks. This time, however, he proposes transferring smaller parks to state control, but officials in states like Utah have indicated they have no plans to take on additional sites beyond their own state parks.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum recently mentioned that his goal is to reduce what he sees as unnecessary bureaucracy and increase the number of workers actually doing hands-on jobs in the parks. He emphasized the need for more staff involved in activities like trail maintenance and firefighting.
The proposed cuts have sparked bipartisan criticism, including from Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski. She pointed out that a budget cut of 35% would contradict claims that the Department of the Interior is focused on boosting the economy. Murkowski highlighted that national parks contribute billions to the U.S. economy.
As the debate continues, the fate of Trump’s budget cuts now lies with the Senate. The outcome will determine how national parks will operate in the coming years and whether they can continue to welcome millions of visitors each summer.